Folding door construction



July 2, 1935.

C. D MICHAEL ET AL FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 13, l95l 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. Z7. fizz/FM.

ATTORNEY5.

y 1935. c. D. MICHAEL ET AL 2,007,020

FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I- 73 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 2, 1935 1 UNITED STATES" PATENT 1 OFFICE FOLDING noon CONSTRUCTION Clark D. Michael, Claude A. Morgan, and Will 1).

Redrup, Huntington,

Ind, assignors to The Majestic Company, Huntington, Ind, a corporation Application November13, 1931, Serial No. 574,716 7 13 Claims.

One feature of the invention in addition to they accomplishment of the foregoing object, consists.

in the arrangement of the several sections and theaddition of means thereto, so that in the movement of the upper section rearwardly from the door opening, second section is constrained toward folded position;

Another feature of the invention consists in the particular retaining means associated with the door and door casin which may be of the manually controlled, mechanically actuated or electrically actuated type and which may be of the slidable bolt and/or. tiltable catch type.

Another feature of the invention consists in the mounting arrangement for. the counterbalancing provided and more specifically, in the. provision for mounting the flexible connection be tween the counterbalancing and the door upon a pulley and its retention upon said pulley.

Another feature of the invention consists in the arrangement of parts permitting rapid and. ready mounting of the door in the vertical guides.

Still, a further feature of the invention consists in the means for maintaining the guides in parallelism. I

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following claims and description:

In the drawings, Fig. l. is a side elevation of the door and one side guide structure, and associated parts, the door being shown in the door closing position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the upper portion of the guide structure with the door in the overhead and folded position. I

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the door andguide structure. 1 1 Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view and is taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of the adjustable mounting of the uppermost guide wheel supportv ing member. 7

6 is a side elevation of one edge of the door and the restraining mechanism applied. thereto, a portion being shown in section to illus trate other parts in detail. I

Fig. 7 is a front view of the manual actuated portions of a portion of the ing mechanism. g I

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the same.

Fig. 9 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of a modified form of restraining mechanism, the remote and electric control being showndiagramand ke restrainmatically, certain parts being shownin section;

and others in side elevation.

In the drawings, there is illustratedapain of substantially vertical upwardly directed guide or trackway structures 10, the same being oppositely directed and positioned at opposite sides of the. door and including a face If and an oppo ite face l2, the guide being of substantially channel arrangement. One of said face structures has an inturned, flange [3 which, near the lower por tion, is cut away or relieved as at M, for the pur-;

pose hereinafter set forth.jThe side jamb' covers a weight box arrangementin which is mounted a long but smaller cross sectional weight l6 and a smaller but larger cross sectional weight;

IT. The two are maintained in separated relation by a. suitable partition l8 of sound-deadening material and the like, and such a partition has been" found satisfactory when made of what is known in the trade as Celotex or equivalent material,

this being a woodfiber composition board.

Herein the door structure is illustrated as com;

prised of three sections. The door structure may. be comprised of five sections, whenever required,

and these may be of equal or unequal length or depth. Allthe sections herein, however, have substantially. the same width. ,Herein the bottom section is indicated by the numeral I9, the interv mediat'e'section by the numeral 20, and the upper section by the numeral 2| Sections and 2| are 7 V Sections Hand 20 are hingedly connected together as at t 23. Thehlnge pin 22a is elongated and mounts a; guide wheel that'is receivable by the upwardly; directed track or guide. The wheel 24-,see Fig",

hingedly connected together as at 22.

4-is ,mounted in the track or guide by being passed transversely through the slot or opening I in the'flange l3. The section 20 is then elevated. The section 19 is also elevated and has its lower edge moved forwardly until the guide wheel 25 is in transverse alignment with the same open.- 1 ing H, whereupon the plntle 25a thereofis projected axiallyand through the slot and the wheel is positioned in the vertical guide, as indicated in D r this e n n of t e oo the 1 vertical guides, the upper section may hang downwardly and rearwardly if desired.

After the two lower sections, and any succeeding sections if more than three and an odd number are utilized, are mounted in the vertical guides, the guide wheel 26 is mounted in the projecting end 28 of an angular bracket member 29, adjustably secured at each upper edge of the door as at ZQc-see Fig. 5. The guide wheel 26 may be readily mounted in the rearwardly directed and substantially horizontally positioned track 30 which terminates in abutting relation to the vertical or upwardly directed track Ill-see particularly Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the rearward and free ends of the horizontal tracks 30 which are channel shaped and are oppositely directed, are connected by the spacing and bracing member 3|.

A coil spring 21 is suitably secured as at 32 to the upper edge of the uper door section at an appreciable distance in from theside edge thereof and the opposite end of the spring is secured at the rearward end of the rearwardly directed guide 30 and to the cross member 3| as at 33. The reason for this so-called angular or-diagonal positioning is clearly evident-from an examination of Fig. 3, wherein the dotted line indicating the spring 21 in its final position illustrates that the spring is of greater length than the perpendicular distance between the upper edge of the upper door section when elevated and the cross member l3 or the end of the horizontal guide 30. With this arrangement, therefore, greater spring strength and greater length of spring may be obtained and utilized respectively.

As the upper door section has its upper edge moved rearwardly by reason of wheels 26 moving rearwardly in the horizontal tracks 30, the lower edge of said door section moves upwardly which carries with it all of the lower sections. The same are hingedly connected end to end. In this elevational movement and rearward movement of the upper door section, a pair of springs 34 positioned at opposite sides of the door and secured at one end, as at 35, to the upper door section and to the next lower door section at its opposite end 36, has its upper ends moved rearwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2, and said springs assist in the elevational movement of, the second section and the lower section or sections and also assist in breaking the door at the hinged joint and secure the automatic folding of the sections.

A counterbalancing structure comprises a cable 31 secured as at 38 to thelower portion of'the lower door section at a point a considerable distance above the bottom of the doorso as to obtain aditional weight travel and said cable 31 is directed upwardly and rearwardly passing over a guide pulley 39 and is connected at its opposite end to the weight H as at 40. Herein the lower end of the upper door section is connected to the flexible cable 4! and said cable passes over the guide pulley 42 and is connected as at 43 to the long weight l6.

The counterbalancing and springs associated with the door are of such a character that when the door is released from its locking means or restriction, it automatically moves from the closed position to the overhead and open position. To cushion the shock, there is provided at the upper end of the upwardly directed guide HI, a rubber or cushioned bumper 44. To insure substantially initial vertical and upward travelof 'the lower sections of the door in the initial opening movement of the door, the guide springs 45 bear upon the cam guide member 45 mounted upon the side jamb or weight housing. As soon as spring 45 leaves the cam portion the section I!) starts to fold relative to the section 26 so that the movement of the door is initially rearward for the upper section and upwardly for the lower sections and thence upwardly and ioldingly for the lower sections in the continued rearward movement of the upper section.

The flexible cables #3! and 3'! are successively positioned in the ofiset portion 47 of the housing or bracket 58 that supports a shaft 49 that mounts pulleys 42 and 39. The pulleys 4i and 39 are slidably mounted on said shaft, as well as rotatably mounted thereon and are adapted to register with the offset portion 4'] for cable mounting. After the cable has been mounted on the pulley, each pulley is shifted axially on the shaft 49.

In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, there is illustrated two forms of a lock strike mechanism, the second form being more or less diagrammatically illustrated.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, there is illustrated a lock 10 having the cylinder H by which a shaft of the lock, of the usual night latch character, is turned. The night latch casing is indicated at l2, the handle indicated at E3, and the bolt by the numeral 14. An outer plate E5 is associated with the lock mechanismsee Figs. 6 and 7and projecting from the same is a handle 15 which is rigid with the shaft ii-see Fig. 8. Rigid with the shaft ll upon the inside of the door, is a member 79 including a cam portion 83, a catch portion 8i and an arm portion 8?. turned, the bolt is released or retracted into the night latch lock casing and the shaft Tl may be turned either from the outside of the door by engaging the handle '55 or from the inside of the door by engaging the arm 82. A stop 83 limits the tilting movement of the shaft 1? in one direction and unless the bolt '14 is retracted, movment in the opposite direction is prevented by said bolt.

After the bolt is retracted either by manually releasing the bolt from within the door by engaging member it or from without the door by operating the lock Ill, the shaft 1'? is tilted either by engaging the arm 82 or by engaging the handle 16 respectively, and this tilting of the shaft '37 draws down upon the chain 84 operatively secured to the shaft. Chain 84 is connected to the arm 85 of a bolt member 88, slidably supported in the casing 8'! and normally projected outwardly by the spring 88. The bolt includes a locking face 89 and a cam face 90.

In a housing 9| and pivotally supported at 92 therein, is a cam type catch having the catch portion 93 and the cam portion 94. The housing 91 is supported by the adjacent jamb structure and the bolt is carried by the upper door section. As the upper door section rolls toward the jamb When the lock is and downwardly, the cam face engages cam face 94 of the catch and the bolt 88 is forced downwardly until it rides beneath the catch and then the spring 88 seats it upwardly with the two opposed faces in engagement. The cam type catch is normally retained in position by a locking lever 95 pivotally supported at 96 in the housing SI and said lever includes an arm 9"! to which is secured a pull cord 98. The lever also includes a seat or notch 99 that co-operates with the portion [09 of the cam catch. Spring lilda is also provided.

A spring 101 normally takes all the strain of the weight of the accumulated cable 98 fromthe arm 91, so that there will be no weight on the arm' 91, and, therefore, no tendency to tilt the lever 95 by reason of the weight of the parts associated with the cable 98 or the weight thereof.

Due to the tendency of the door to open by'reason of the two upper springs immediately upon release of the catch, which is also'movable-as well as the bolt, the door starts to openso that when the lever, which operates in a wayas a lock forthe cam catch, is tilted clockwise and the cam catch isfreed therefrom, then the door can tilt the cam catch counterclockwise and thus the-bolt 8B acts as thecatch and the catch acts as the bolt. This release of the catch is effected by pulling upon the cord 98 from any desired location to which the cord extends or to which any'branch -'of a multiple cord connection is extended.

' In Fig. 9 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention and herein similar parts are indicated by like numerals increased by one hundred.

' In addition to the pull cord I98 being utilized, there is substituted a link member 202.which I terminates in an armature H0. Solenoid-III,-

- H5 to a switch H6, in turn connected by a branch I I! to a supply line I I8. Another branch I I9 from line I I4 is connected to a switch #26, the other terminal of which is connected to the branch line IZI in series with the line H8. Current supplied to lines I I3 and H8 may be supplied to'the solenoid by pressing the push button switch Iifl which may be mounted within thegarage building, or the like, or may be supplied with energy by switch H6 which is operated or-controlled by a key actuated, or other equivalent structure, I23 mechanically connected as at I24 to the switch H6. Usually this look actuated or controlled switch is mounted upon the door casing and upon the outside thereof.

It will be readily apparent also that the mechanism shown in the lower part of Fig. 6 and in Figs. 7 and 8 may be operatively associatedwith the arm I85 of the lock bolt.

The invention claimed is:

'1. The combination with an upper jamb member, a sectional door comprised of a plurality of door members hingedly connected end to end, the upper edge of the upper door member of which moves rearwardly, means constraining said edge for said movement, means counterbalancing the door members and constraining the same into folded and overhead relation, and a releasable may be readily mounted in thev door guides by successively nesting the superposed members in the trackway by projecting outwardly each member and its support when in registration with the flange opening for progressive door section mounting. I 3. In a sectional overhead door construction, the combination of a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected end to 'end,a pair of opposed rearwardly extending overhead guides, means carried by the upper door section adjacent the upper edge and co-operating with the-overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge .of theupper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, and means connecting the rearward ends of the rearwardly directed guides to guide spacing and alignment.

4. In a sectional overhead door construction, the combination of a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected end to end, a pair of opposed rearwardly extending overhead guides, means carried by the upper door section adjacent the upper edge and co-operating with the overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge of the upper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, and a spring extending from adjacent the rearward end of each rearwardly directed guide to the upper door section nearthe' upper edge thereof.

5. In a sectional overhead door construction,

1e combination or" a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected end to end,

a pair of opposed rearwardly extending overhead guides, means carried by the upper door section adjacent the upper edge and co-operating with the overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge of the upper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, and a spring extending from adjacent the rearward end of each rearwardlydh rected guide tothe upper door section at the upper edge thereof and inwardly an appreciable distance from the side edge thereof.

6. In asectional overhead door construction, the combination of a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected end toend; a pair of opposed rearwardly extending overhead guides, means carried by the upper door section adjacent the upper edge and co-operating 'th the overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge of the upper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, means connecting the rearward ends of the rearwardly directed guides for guide spacing and alignment, and spring means connecting the upper door section near the upper edge to the guide connecting means.

'7. A combination sectionalized folding and rolling door comprising a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected together, means arranged to constrain rearwardly the top edge of the top section upon the initial door opening movement, means including vertical guides, wheels and counter-balancing to constrain upwardly the sections upon initial door opening movement, and means separate from the last mentioned means arranged to constrain rearwardly the lower portion of the second section from the top for folding the second section overhead adjacent the top section.

I 8. A combination sectionalized folding and rolling door comprising a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected, means arranged to automatically guide rearwardly the top edge of the top section, means including vertical guides, wheels and counter-balancing arranged to constrain upwardly the several sections, upwardly directed guide means associated with one horizontal edge of each door section, and means arranged to automatically constrain two, adjacent door sections into folded relation upon initial door movement.

9. In a sectional overhead door construction, the combination of a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected end toend, a ,pair of opposed rearwardly extending overhead guides, means carried by the upper door section adjacent the upper edge and co-operating with the overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge of the upper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, and spring means connecting a superposed odd numbered section to the immediate lower even numbered directly connected section and remote from the connection for breaking and elevational purposes.

10. In a sectional overhead door construction, the combination of a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected end to end, a pair of opposed rearwardly extending overhead guides, means carried by the upper door section adjacent the upper edge and co-operating with the overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge of the upper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, means connecting the rearward ends of the rearwardly directed guides for guide spacing and alignment, and spring means connecting a superposed odd numbered section to the immediate lower even numbered directly conadjacent the upper edge and co-operating with the overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge of the upper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, a spring, extending from adjacent the rearward end of each rearwardly directed guide to the upper door section near the upper edge thereof, and spring means connecting a superposed odd numbered section to the immediate lower even numbered directly connected section and remote from the connection for breaking and elevational purposes.

12. In a sectional overhead door construction, the combination of a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected end to end, a pair of opposed rearwardly extending overhead guides, means carried by the upper door section adjacent the upper edge and co-operating with the overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge of the upper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, a spring extending from adjacent the rearward end of each rearwardly directed guide to the upper door section at the upper edge thereof and inwardly an appreciable distance from the side edge thereof, and spring means connecting a superposed odd numbered section to the immediate lower even numbered directly connected section and remote from the connection for breaking and elevational purposes.

13. me sectional overhead door construction, the combination of a plurality and odd number of door sections hingedly connected end to end, a pair of opposed rearwardly extending overhead guides, means carried by the upper door section adjacent the upper edge and co-operating with the overhead guides to constrain the movement of the upper edge of the upper door section rearwardly, counterbalancing means connected to the lowest section, means connecting the rearward ends of the rearwardly directed guides for guide spacing and alignment, spring means connecting the upper door section near the upper edge to the guide connecting means, and spring means connecting a superposed odd numbered section to the immediate lower even numbered directly connected section and remote from the connection for breaking and elevational purposes.

CLARK D. MICHAEL. CLAUDE A. MORGAN. WILL D. REDRUP. 

